Dad Pro Tip #3: Buy a Truck

The pickup truck. There is no more versatile vehicle, and when you’ve got kids, you’re going to need versatility. Therefore, you need to buy a truck.

But Jack, I live in the city, you might say. Or, I just don’t need one. I don’t do anything outdoorsy and I don’t need to carry anything. My car can do it if I need to, or I’ll just borrow one from a friend.

If you say you’ll be borrowing one from a friend, you’re already admitting you need a truck. If you live in a city, you’re going to thank me when that cab gets the hell out of the way under threat of serious body damage to him, and a minor tire scuff for you. If you think your car can do it, you’re just delusional. It can’t.

Let’s look at some reasons to buy a truck.

Reason 1: Interior room

This isn’t your grandfather’s truck from the farm. Modern pickups have tons of room. If you spring for a full-size with the crew cab, you’re not going to know what to do with all that room. I have a Ram Mega Cab. I can easily fit three car seats across it. Nobody is crowded. I’ve got room behind the rear seat to throw ratchet straps behind it and the occasional body if need be. The rear seat even reclines! It’s cavernous. Can your Prius say the same? I didn’t think so. Even if you go with a midsize truck, it has just as much room as a large sedan.

Reason 2: Storage space

Let’s get real now. You’re a dad. You’ve got plywood to buy, 2x4s to deal with, metal scraps, and trash to take to the dump after cleaning something out. If not, then you’re probably on the wrong site. Maybe you’ve got stinky sports gear, sofas to move, bicycles, ATVs, or really anything that doesn’t fit in anything short of a U-Haul. Throw it in the bed and call it good.

Reason 3: On the road, size matters

Dick jokes aside, this is fact. Driving a truck commands respect on the road. Sure, you’re not bigger than a dump truck, but aside from 12 ton commercial vehicles, you’ve got the right of way. More importantly, trucks are safer in a collision. Yes, there’s a higher risk for a rollover, because they sit higher and weigh more, but that height and weight advantage makes it safer in collisions. This article from PickupTrucks.com cites this University of Buffalo study explaining why you’re better off in a big ass truck than anything else, irrespective of crash test ratings. When your windshield is in line with my trailer hitch, it’s pretty self-explanatory as to why I’m going to win that fight.

Reason 4: Rule Number 1

Rule Number 1 is always look cool. Trucks look cool, and you need to look cool, even if you aren’t. So buy a truck.

Ok, Jack, you’ve got me. What should I get?

Boom. Here are the boxes I tick and why you should too:

Crew cab: you’re a Dad. You need the interior room. Don’t go for an extended cab if you’ve got a family. Maybe you can get away with it if your kids are older, but there’s really not much reason for one. Bigger is better.

Four wheel drive: four wheel drive is a necessity for a truck. The very thing that distinguishes a truck is also a source of potential trouble. You’ll note that the bed is an empty piece of metal, and the nose of the truck sits lower than the front. This means that unless you’ve got something heavy back there, the ass end is lighter than the front. The usual drive wheels are the rear wheels. When it gets slick, traction goes south a lot faster than you might expect. So get four wheel drive and save yourself some pain unless you plan on driving around with 700 pounds in the bed all the time. Also, you’re going to be driving this through snow and rain and mud and sand to go camping or exploring, or to get to the grocery store during a snowstorm. You’re not going to get far in two wheel drive. Pony up the cash and make sure there’s a transfer case.

Bed size: a source of debate amongst truck guys. A long bed (8′) means you can carry more, but it’s tougher to deal with for a daily driver. A super short bed (5′) limits what you can carry comfortably, but you can do it with some ingenuity. I go for the 6.5′ standard bed. Best of both worlds. Ultimately, this one is personal preference and your intended use.

Engine: the most powerful one you can get. Fuel mileage is important, but horsepower and torque are more important. You’ll be better off and happier with a more powerful engine. Gas or diesel is up to you. I went diesel because it’s insanely strong, it’ll run forever, and I get 22 mpg on the highway and 17-18 mpg in regular driving. That’s about 7 mpg better than the gas engine in my truck. Gas has its advantages, like a lower cost and the fact that gas is more readily available. You pay more up front for the diesel, and fuel can be tough to find sometimes, but if you plan on keeping it for years, the diesel is better in the long run. Mileage and maintenance work themselves out after about 100k, and you’ll see higher resale values if you decide to get rid of it. Trade that bad boy in with 200k on the clock and people will say it’s just broken in. But that initial cost isn’t fun.

Full-size or midsize: Dad of Five would disagree, but I give the nod to the full-size. Midsized trucks just aren’t enough for me. They don’t have the cargo carrying capability that I need and they’re just not big enough inside. A Tacoma costs as much as a full-size, but with comparable or worse mileage and less capability. However, they’re much easier to deal with on a daily basis, and in the case of a Tacoma, they hold their value incredibly well. If you just occasionally need to do truck stuff, or if you’re into off-roading, a midsize might be more your style. Dad of Five rocks the manual transmission, which is much easier to find in the Tacoma. Stay tuned for another Dad Pro Tip about that one.

Other Considerations

Rain: If it rains, you’ve got two options. First, drive faster than 45 mph and keep everything up close to the cab. It won’t get wet. Since that’s not always a feasible option, there are products designed to keep things in truck beds dry. Tonneau covers are the less expensive option. They are flush with the top of the bed to keep the standard “truck” look. There are tons of choices here between soft, hard, roll up, flip up, metal, vinyl, plastic, so whatever you think fits you best, roll with that. With it deployed, you’ve got a huge trunk. You can get it out of the way quickly, and you’ve got your full truck bed back. There are also bed caps or truck camper shells, whatever your local dialect favors. They’re rigid and sit flush with the top of the truck cab or more. It gives you a lot more room to haul bigger items, but not enough for things like ATVs or dirt bikes. If you don’t carry vehicles, then you’ll probably be all right to get one. Cons are the cost and it’s difficult to easily remove one on your own. You’re not going to care when you’ve got a rainproof place to keep all of your stuff or when you’re out camping and you’re warm, dry, and happy.

Outdoor activities: This is where trucks shine. Sure, a Jeep can get you anywhere, but it won’t be with your family for an extended period of time. With a truck, you can go hunting, fishing, overlanding, rock crawling, camping, and much more in comfort and with all of the gear you need. If your wife objects to tents and you’ve got the cash, get a travel trailer. You’re not going to be towing much with your Jeep, but with a truck, you can go for luxury glamping. Trailer, toy hauler, fifth-wheel RV, you’re good to go. Going hunting for some deer or other game? A truck is your best bet. Got a solid catch from a day out on the ocean? Your car won’t stink thanks to the bed keeping the fish outside. You can’t go wrong.

Projects: When you go to your local home improvement store, you can confidently say that you’re going to be able to bring whatever you need home. Lumber and plywood? Done. Power tools? Yup. Lawn mowers? Of course. That new washer and dryer? No question. You can go get it and bring it back in one trip. Getting a new love seat to spruce the place up? For sure. Moving to a new spot? Get a trailer and double your efficiency. It’s a no-brainer.

A word of caution: your friends without trucks will suddenly be ecstatic that you have one. You are obliged to help, within reason, but guide them and show them the light of having a truck of their own.

Whether you’re constantly using it, or just on the weekends, you’ll never go back to life without a truck once you’ve had one. I’ve tried, and I couldn’t do it. There are too many things that become too easy with a truck. As a Proficient Provider, you need to confidently and competently handle any task thrown at you, and with a truck, you’ll be better prepared to face these challenges.

~I Am Jack~